JIMMY FALLON DELIVERS HIS BIGGEST 18-49 AND TOTAL-VIEWER RESULTS IN EIGHT WEEKSSEASON TO DATE, JAY HAS INCREASED HIS YEAR-AGO MARGINS OVER 'LATE SHOW' IN VIEWERS 18-34, 18-49 AND 25-54UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – November 9, 2012 – NBC’s “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" have generated #1 results for the late-night week of October 29-November 2, with Jay delivering a bigger 18-49 audience than CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman" and Jimmy topping CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" in every key ratings category.

Jimmy Fallon generated his biggest 18-49 audience and overall viewership in eight weeks, since the week of September 3-7, which benefitted from a high-rated overrun from the NFL season-opening telecast on September 5.

Note that Nielsen considers the October 29-November 2 week a "breakout" due to extensive disruptions caused by Hurricane Sandy, and the week's data will not be included in season program averages.

Season to date, "Tonight" has stretched its leads versus one year ago over CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman" in viewers 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54. In viewers 18-49, "Tonight" has established a margin over "Late Show" of 9 percent (981,000 vs. 904,000), eliminating last year's "Late Show" advantage of 2 percent. Jay has also generated a 25-54 advantage this season of 5 percent (1.250 million vs. 1.188 million) after trailing by 1 percent at this point last year, while stretching his 18-34 lead to 23 percent (340,000 vs. 276,000) up from last year’s 10 percent.

WEEKLY AVERAGES

(According to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research for the week of October 29-November 2. Ratings reflect “live plus same day” data from Nielsen Media Research unless otherwise noted. Season-to-date figures are averages of “live plus seven day” data except for the two most recent weeks, which are “live plus same day.”)

ADULTS 18-49

11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET

NBC “Tonight,” 0.8 rating, 3 share*

CBS “Late Show,” 0.7/3*

11:35 p.m.-12 midnight ET

ABC “Nightline,” 0.9/4*

12 midnight-1 a.m. ET

ABC “Kimmel,” 0.7/3*

12:35-1:35 a.m. ET

NBC “Late Night,” 0.6/3*

CBS “Late Late Show,” 0.5/3*

1:35-2:05 a.m. ET

NBC “Last Call,” 0.3/2 (in encore telecasts)*

TOTAL VIEWERS

11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET

NBC “Tonight,” 3.4 million viewers*

CBS “Late Show,” 3.4 million viewers*

11:35 p.m.-12 midnight ET

ABC “Nightline,” 4.2 million viewers*

12 midnight-1 a.m. ET

ABC “Kimmel,” 2.3 million viewers*

12:35-1:35 a.m. ET

NBC “Late Night,” 1.8 million viewers*

CBS “Late Late Show,” 1.7 million viewers*

1:35-2:05 a.m. ET

NBC “Last Call,” 1.0 million viewers (in encore telecasts)*

* All programs for the week were considered "breakouts" by Nielsen due to Hurricane Sandy disruptions, and will not be included in season program averages. Monday's "Last Call" was an original

He did? Oh, I thought he said he had blocked them. Maybe I’m thinking of something else.

Brad

I thought he referred that too but it turned out to be just Danny.

GAR, it is amazing how partisan Letterman has become. I’m amazed he can go on an interview and say he’s an independent voter in order to prove he’s bi-partisan, but that doesnt mean he’s bi-partisan because my parents are independent voters and always vote for one party. And to say Clinton has gotten more jokes, especially about the Monikka L. scandal, that makes late night bi-partisan? that’s bogus. I’m sure he’s gotten more jokes than any other politican but people hold him in high regards today regardless. People think he’s cool regardless what he did. Anyways, I hope one of these late night figures will turn the other way. I would love that but we’ll have to wait and see what the future brings.

Gary Middleton

“And to say Clinton has gotten more jokes, especially about the Monikka L. scandal, that makes late night bi-partisan? that’s bogus. I’m sure he’s gotten more jokes than any other politican but people hold him in high regards today regardless. People think he’s cool regardless what he did.”

Not sure I followed the logic there, Brad. How does the public’s regard for Bill Clinton dictate whether or not late night was bipartisan or even anti-Clinton?

mary

Brad, Dennis Miller had a late night talk show years ago. He was on HBO for awhile. After 9/11, he switched over to the Republican party. Isn’t he now a regular commentator on Fox? Don’t know how successful he is but he’s definitely right wing.

Republicans provide so much material for comedians. Seamus anyone? How about an elevator for cars? And that’s just Mitt. Bachmann. Palin. Akin. Mourdoch. West. O’Donnell. Cheney. Comedians had a field day with Clinton as President. The only recent dem scandal that comes to mind is Wiener…and comedians certainly had fun with him.

Neal

Jay is still on top!

Gary Middleton

0.438 for Conan last week.

Brad

I’m saying the Clinton jokes don’t affect his popularity with the public. All the jokes about Romney’s dog and elevator for cars makes him look bad. But Letterman insists it is fair and I disagree with him.

That Carson biopic will surely be interesting. Personally, I was very content with the PBS documentary about Carson. Hopefully they hire Robert Redford so can bring his Quiz Show magic to it.

“Is it too early to begin speculating about who might play Carson and Ed McMahon?”

Any thoughts on this guys? I got nobody in my mind except John Goodman for Ed McMahon.

Gary Middleton

“I’m saying the Clinton jokes don’t affect his popularity with the public. All the jokes about Romney’s dog and elevator for cars makes him look bad.”

Romney made Romney look bad. Clinton made Clinton popular. The public decides these things, not late night comedians. Late night took a sledgehammer to Ronald Reagan every single night, casting him as a senile mental incompetent. Reagan carried 49 states.

The only thing I’m fairly sure of with a Carson biopic is it will contain many pails of whitewash.

Aaron

Gary, a Carson biopic will be interesting nonetheless.

Gary Middleton

Funny you should say that, Aaron. Because the more I think about a Carson biopic based on Zehme’s adoring work, I can’t figure out how it can possibly be interesting. The story arc is of a guy who hosted game shows, landed the Tonight Show, and stayed in first place until he left 3 decades later. The real behind the scenes stuff, fraught with alcoholism and violence, would be interesting but I figure it had to be swept under the rug before the estate signed off on this.

Many of the key scenes took place on the broadcast, and re-enactments tend to pale when we have seen the real thing. That’s partly what handcuffed Man On The Moon and Ali, movies that did not do particularly well.

I suppose they could do what so many movies do and just make a lot of stuff up. That’s what Ben Affleck did with Argo’s “true story” and it’s a leading Oscar contender. They could have Johnny racing to Burbank while dodging bullets from a machine guns fired by Merv Griffin and Joey Bishop, making it to his monologue position with one second to spare.